somerville



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l. T. SOMERVILLE. Jr.

TILE CUTTING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 24, 1889.

mineasem N. PHERS. PhmoLflMgnplvar. withing! 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

T, SOMERVILLB. Jr.

TILE CUTTING MACHINE.

Patentedlsept. 24, 1889.

N. PEYERS. Pl'mlvLRMgraphor, WlIhingiofl. D. Q

UNITED STATES PATENT rricn.

THOMAS SOMERVILLE, JR, OF TVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Tl LE-CUTTING MACHIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,690, dated September 24, 1889.

Application filed June 28, 1889. fierial No. 315,598. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SOMERVILLE, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tile-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tile cutting machines; and the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts,as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the machine complete. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of a portion on the line 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken at right angles to Fig. 4: is a sectional elevation showing the position of the chuck for cutting aY branch. Fig-5 is an enlarged view of the wire holding and tightening device. Fig. 6 1s an elevation of a piece of the pipe, illus tratmg some of the different curves on which 1t is out by the machine; and Figs. 7 and 8 represent lengths of pipe with a T and a Y branch, respectively.

In the manufacture of drain tile or pipe it is. necessary to provide some of the lengths of pipe with branches for uniting branch lines with the main line, these branches being known to the trade as T and Y branches, the former being shown in Fig. 7 and the latter in Fig. 8, the branch or side piece in the T branch being set at a right angle to the main pipe, while the side piece in the Y branch is set at an angle of forty-five degrees to the main pipe, as shown. These side pieces or branches are fitted to the main pipe after the pipe has been formed or molded by a machine, but before the pipe is burned and while the clay is still soft enough to admit of its being out. It will readily be understood that the end of the T branch must be cut in the arc of a circle corresponding to the circumference of the pipe to which it is to be attached, and which varies greatly, the branch sometimes being of the same or nearly the same diameter as the main pipe, while in other cases the main pipe maybe many times the diameter of the branch. So, too, the Y branch has to be out not only with a curvature corresponding with the circumference of the main pipe to which it is to be attached,

but also diagonally at an angle to its longer axis. The usual practice has been for the workman to out these branches by hand as near the required shape as possible, and when they were applied to the main piece (which they seldom, if ever, fit accurately) fill in the joint or spaces where they do not form a perfect joint with soft clay by hand, the result being that this soft clay shrinks more in drying than the pipe which has been compressed in the mold, and thus is very liable to form cracks at the joint when the pipe is burned, thereby causing defective pipe and consequent waste.

The object of my invention is to produce a machine by which the ends of these branches can be cut on the arc of any desired circle and also at the proper angle, so that when the cut end of the branch is applied to the main pipe it will'fit accurately and form a perfect joint or contact all around.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 make the machine substantially as shown in Fig. 1. It consists of a bed A, mounted on legs, with two uprights J firmly secured to its opposite ends and rigidly connected by one or more crossbars at the top. \Vithin this upright frame I mount the cutting device, which consists of a rigid frame 1 1, composed of two sidepieces 72, 7t and a connecting-bar at the top. This frame may be cast in a single piece or in separate pieces; or it may be made of wrought metal, provided that it be made rigid, so that it will not spring or twist when in use, as any material springing or twisting would tend to throw the cutter-wire 6 out of line, and thus intefere with the accuracy of its work. One or more rods t' are secured to the frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, by which it can be moved to operate it, as hereinafter explained. At its lower end a small steel wire 6 is secured, this wire being preferably secured to hooks or eyes Z, both of which are provided with nuts 77. n, by the screwing up of which the wire can be stretched and held taut, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

As shown in Figs. 1 and a, both the standards J and the side bars h of the cutter-frame are provided with a series of holes a for the reception of bolts 1, or a rod by which the cutter-frame is pivoted to the uprights J, so it can be swung back and forth, thereby top moving the cutter or wire e in the arc of a circle of which the pivots I are the center.

The holes a are made at such distances apart as will cause the cutter to move in the arcs of circles corresponding to the circumference of the different sizes of pipe made, from two inches up to two or more feet, it only being necessary to adjust the pivots to the holes corresponding to the size of the pipe for which the branch is to be cut, and in order to facilitate this operation and prevent mistakes by the workmen the holes are numbered both on the uprights and on the cutterframe with numbers corresponding to the size of the pipe for which the branch is to be cut, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, these numbers preferably indicating the diameter of the main pipe in inches.

It will thus be seen that the cutter e retains at all times the same relation to the bed of the machine without reference to the change of the pivots I, the change of the pivots simply causing the cutter c to swing or move in the arc of a larger or smallercircle, according as they are raised or lowered.

Instead of the holes for changing the pivots, and consequently the throw of the frame, it is obvious that the pivots may be made adjustable by other meanssuch,forinstance, as securing them to clamps, which can be adjusted up and down on both the frame and the side supports; but the plan shown is the simplest, and is thereforepreferred.

The height of the cutter 6 above the bed should be such as to permit the piece of pipe to be cut to be set in position underneath the cutter e, so as to avoid the necessity of swinging the frame to move the cutterout of the Way, and thus leave the operator the free use of both hands in handling the pipe.

In order to hold the pipe and elevate it to the proper position to be cut, I provide a series of chucks O, of the proper form to fit within the bell end of the piece to be cut, as-

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pipe being shown on the chuck in dotted lines in the latter. These chucks I make of wood, and each is provided with a metal socket f, which has a screw-thread, by which the chuck can be attached to a supporting reciprocating rod D, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the chucks can be changed at will to fit any sized pipe. At its lower end. this rod D is provided with a slotted guide or block R, in the slot of which is pivoted a roller d, against which a pivoted foot lever or treadle T bears, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the function of this treadle being to raise the chuck with its pipe to the proper height and hold it there while being out.

In order to cause the chuck with its pipe to be held true and firmly while the pipe is being cut, the rod D is made to work through a metallic t-hinlble or box V, set in the bed, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and. in order to regulate the height to which the pipe shall be raised a stop N is secured to the rod D below the bed by a set-screw, so it can be adjusted to give any movement desired. If preferred, the stop N may be dispensed with by making the rod D of the proper length, so that when raised the block R- will serve as a stop, the fulcrum and curvature of the treadle T being-made to correspond, so as to bring the foot-piece of the treadle at the proper height for the operator.

Thus far I have described the machine as adapted to cut the pipe for a T branch, such as shown in Figs. 2 and '7.

In order to cut the pipe for a Y branch, all that is required is that the chuck be so set as to hold the pipe inclined at the proper angle in relation to the cutter e, as represented in Fig. 3. This is most easily effected by bending the upper end of the supporting-rod D at an angle of forty-five degrees, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It is obvious that instead of forming the rod with the angle or bend the same result would be produced by setting the socket f in the chuck at the desired angle; but the former plan is much the most convenient, and hence preferred. Then the chuck is thus arranged and the pipe placed on the ,chuck, the pipe will be held at an angle of forty-five degrees to the cuttingwire 6, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. It is obvious that this bent rod D may be substituted in place of the straight rod D, and thus by changing this one piece the machine can be adapted to out either the T or the Y branch at will. For ordinary use I prefer, however, to provide the machine with both the straight rod D and the bent rod D, as shown in Fig. 3, the latter being located near one end of the frame, as there shown, so as to bring that part of the pipe where the cut is to be made as near the center of the cutter e as possible.

In order to enable the same treadle to be used to operate either the straight or the bent rod in this double machine, I pivot the treadle or foot lever T in the lower end ofa rod or support F, which is clamped to the bed A, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it can be turned to the right or left far enough to bring the inner end of the lever T in line with either of said rods as it may be desired to operate the one or the other. For the smaller establishments this double machine will be preferred; but for large concerns it may be preferred to have the machines made separately for each style of branch, in which case of course the treadlesupport'will not need to be made adjustable.

In order to support the pipe for the Y branch While being cut and prevent it from any tendency to come loose from its chuck, I provide a rest G, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, it consisting of a bent plate of'metal secured to the upper end of a bar or rod a, which has its lower end hinged to the bed, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, and to which is hinged a brace-rod if, the lower end of which rests in notches cut in the bed or in a metal plate socured thereon, whereby the rest G can be ad justed and held in proper position to support the pipe at a point just below where it is to be cut by the wire a, as represented in Fig. 3.

To use the machine, the pivots of the cutter-frame are first adjusted according to the size of the pipe to which the branch is to be attached, and a chuck corresponding in size with the pipe from which the branch is to be made is secured to the rod D or D, according to the style of branch to be made. A short piece of pipe B is then placed on the chuck C1 and raised by the footlever, when the cutter or wire 6 is drawn forward by swinging the cutter-frame by one hand of the workman, while with the other hand the pipe is held against the pressure of the cutter. Then the cut piece is lifted oif the chuck, another put on, and the operation repeated, and so on until the required number have been out.

By the use of this machine not only can the work be much more rapidly done, but it is accomplished with such accuracy that when the cut end of the branch is applied to the side of the main pipe it fits accurately all around and leaves no perceptible opening to be filled with soft clay, it only being necessary to smear a thin layer of clay over the joint with the finger to make a smooth and neat finish. By this means, also, the branches can be made exact duplicates or interchangeable, so that any one out of a large number will fit accurately any piece of pipe of the proper diameter.

The side hole in the main pipe is cut in the usual manner by hand.

I am aware that clay pipe has before been cut on a curve by means of a wire, and that machines have been made for that purpose in which a swinging frame was mounted in a fixed position on pivots and the cutting-wire is made adjustable on said frame, and that a pivoted frame or box arranged to be adjusted at various angles was used for holding the pipe to be cut, and therefore I do not claim either of said devices; but

What I claim isl. The combination, in a tile or pipe cutting machine, of a swinging cutter-frame having a cutter permanently secured thereto and a frame for supporting the same, the two being connected by adjustable pivots, whereby the cutter can be made to move in the arcs of diiferent circles without changing the height of the cutter in relation to the pipe-support, substantially as described.

2. The chuck C, in combination with the movable support or rod D and a foot lever or treadle for operating the same.

3. In combination with the pivoted or swinging cutter-frame, the chuck 0, adapted to fit within the end of the pipe and hold the same while being cut.

4. In a tile-cutting machine, the chuck 0, adapted to fit within the end of the pipe and arranged to hold the pipe at the required angle in relation to the swinging cutter 6, substantially as shown and described.

5. In combination with the chuck C, arranged to hold the pipe at an angle to the cutter e, the separately-adjustable hinged brace G, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination with the supports or rods D and D, the laterally-adjustable foot lever or treadle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In combination with the movable support D or D and a foot lever or treadle for operating the same, a stop for limiting the movement of the support.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS SOMERVILLE, JR.

Witnesses:

CHAS. P. DRURY, WALTER S. DODGE. 

